what is your idea of perfect design happiness?
HAVING THE TIME AND BUDGET TO ADDRESS EVERY MINUTE DETAIL
AS IF MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT.
what is your greatest fear in design?
BEING BORING OR WORSE…ROTE.
which historical design figure do you most identify with?
I AM A POOR VERSION OF MILLICENT ROGERS.
which living designer do you most admire?
HAVING JUST RETURNED FROM HANGING OUT AT THE POOL
AT LA MAMOUNIA IN MARRAKESH, I’D HAVE TO SAY JACQUES GRANGES.
what profession other than design would you like to attempt?
PLAYWRITING…I HAVE AGREAT STORY ALREADY IN MIND.
what is your greatest design extravagance?
MATERIALS SUCH AS LAPIS AND TIGER’S EYE LINERS
(FROM AFGHANISTAN!) IN A SHOWER.
when and where were you happiest with your design?
WHEN I AM IN THE BEGINNING OF THE DESIGN PHASE
AND NOTHING HAS TAKEN SHAPE AND THEN AGAIN RIGHT AT THE END
WHEN I AM PLACING ARTWORK AND EVERYTHING IS COMING TOGETHER.
THE MIDDLE BIT CAN BE RATHER GRUELING .
what do you consider your greatest achievement in design?
MY GROWING LINE OF WORLDLY TEXTILES FOR KATIE LEEDE AND COMPANY.
if you died and came back as another designer or design object,
who or what do you think it would be?
A ROTHKO PAINTING OR ANYTHING THAT REVERBERATES WITH LIGHT
OR MAYBE I’D BE THE LIGHT IN JAMES TURRELL’S CRATER.
what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have?
THE ABILITY TO HAND DRAW GORGEOUS, ELEGANT ROOM RENDERINGS.
what is your most treasured design related possession?
I HAVE A HUGE BLACK AND WHITE SAM FRANCIS PRINT THAT WILL ALWAYS
GIVE ANY HOME I EVER MOVE INTO SIGNIFICANCE AND POW FACTOR
AND, SECONDLY, THERE IS MY PRIZED COLLECTION OF OUT- OF -PRINT BOOKS
ON TEXTILES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design?
GETTING CHEWED OUT BY CLIENTS FOR THE MISTAKES THAT INEVITABLY OCCUR
IN ANY HUMAN ENDEAVOR OF ANY VALUE.
what curse word do you most frequently use?
FUCK.
what is your favorite design related word?
SURROUND.
what is your least favorite design related word?
CONTRACT.
what turns you on in design?
ARTFULNESS.
what turns you off in design?
ANYTHING TOO MATCHY.
what is your motto in design?
DARE TO CARE.
IMAGE CREDITS | Headshot via Irving & Fine, Fabric is Menna in Pharoh’s Pond, Fabric is Shade of Sycamore in Saffron, Hotel is La Mamounia in Marrakesh, Mark Rothko Untitled via Tate Modern, Fabric is Kimono Positive in Indigo.
PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by my design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. This interview technique has been used by many journalists throughout the years but my column was primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of Vanity Fair (my alma mater). The twist here on CLOTH & KIND is that I’ve repurposed each question to relate to interior design. To read all of my Proust on Design interviews, please click here. Enjoy!
Great interview! As someone who always finds parallels between writing and design, it was a fun surprise to read about Katie’s playwrite aspirations.
Thanks, Chedva! What do you write about (aside from on your blog, of course)? xoxo
I write for design magazines in Israel, but I used to translate fiction. xo
Very cool!
Oh I just love this interview! Always so interesting to hear what people think and how they respond. LOVE IT!
Thanks, Tami! What are your weekend plans, my dear? xoxo
I also enjoy these interviews – always so fun to read the responses and get to know someone’s personality and what they enjoy in life.
I agree, Holly. I think I may love reading their responses as much as you guys do. It’s interesting to get a glimpse inside the heads of the people we admire so much. Have a great weekend! xoxo
Yet another wonderfully fascinating interview – thank you for introducing this series!
thanks for the introduction- enjoyed it!